Solar Recycling – A Crucial Step Towards Sustainability
We need not mention the fact that the energy industry has been experiencing a radical alteration, and the gradual shift towards renewable energy sourcing is more than evident. However, it should be noted that it appears sustainable and stays the way toward the end of its life cycle. It is one of the most common worries regarding photovoltaic solar panels. This goes without saying that they are a sustainable source of energy, dependent only on solar radiation, and capable of delivering electricity to our homes. But what if the solar panels are not able to perform efficiently?
You should be well aware of the fact that the waste from end-of-life solar panels presents opportunities to recover valuable materials and even facilitate the creation of jobs via recycling. In accordance with the International Renewable Energy Agency, the overall value of recoverable raw materials from end-of-life panels internationally will be around $450 million, which is equal to the cost of raw materials currently required to produce around 60 million new panels.
Diverting solar panels from landfills in order to recycle them saves a lot of space in landfills, along with capturing the value of the raw materials. If you are searching for the best company to facilitate solar panel installation for home, you must get in touch with Evaska Energy, as they are the supreme providers of a range of solar solutions aimed at going environment-friendly.
Recycling of Solar Panels
Crystalline-silicon solar technology represents most of the solar panel market share. You must note that this type of solar panel is constructed with glass, an aluminum frame, polymer layers, copper wire and a plastic junction box. The polymer layers seal the panel from exposure to weather but can make recycling and panel disassembling difficult, as high temperatures lead to loosening the adhesive.
As we can see, a lot of components can be recycled. Glass is the heaviest component in a solar panel, as it shares over 75% of the manufacturing. There are other materials that are easily recyclable, including copper wire, plastic junction boxes, and aluminum frames. There are other materials too in solar panels, such as tin, antimony, gallium, indium, and tellurium.
In addition to this, other components of a solar power system may include inverters, battery backup systems, and racking, which can also be recycled. If you want to gain access to one of the top solar EPC companies in Gurgaon.
There are more than one ways in which solar panels can be recycled, and they are:
- Separation of the silicon wafer and glass through mechanical, thermal, or chemical processes
- Removal of the junction box and the frame
- Detachment and purification of the silicon cells and specialty metals via electrical and chemical techniques.
The industry is new, and there is no denying that it is still growing, with researchers examining how to commercialize recycling in order to economically recover most of the components of a solar panel. You may find the elements of this recycling process in the United States, but it is not happening on a large scale.
The process of recycling generally involves shredding, crushing, and milling, usually after the removal of the frame and the junction box. In these processes, aluminum, glass, and copper may be recovered, and the other materials involving solar cells may be incinerated.
The smaller part of the solar market is represented by thin film cadmium-telluride panels. At least one U.S. manufacturer runs committed recycling facilities for thin film panels which recover the semiconductor material.
Summing Up
If you are aiming to go solar, then you are certainly doing the right things going solar will benefit you in a lot of ways. Being one of the top solar rooftop companies in Gurgaon, Evaska Energy is the leading provider of solar solutions that can help you lower your electricity bills and contribute to a greener environment.
Reduce your carbon footprint by going solar with Evaska Energy. What are you waiting for? Contact Evaska Energy today and let the experts take you solar. They will be providing you with the best solutions in accordance with your needs and requirements.
